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210 

 Appendix 1: Colonial Documents: 

Of Indentureship & Slavery 
Pooran Bridgelal 

 

Pooran Bridgelal is currently a 3
rd

 year student at the University of Toronto. He lives in 

Toronto with his wife Judy and his son Levi. He is a collector of rare books and maps 

on the West Indies.  

 

“As a Trinidadian living here in Toronto, one can become lost in urban life. I decided 

to submit this information in the hope of memory. Our forefathers and foremothers 

were forced and cajoled to journey to the West Indies. Even though they were 

uprooted from their lives, they made new ones. I am of the firm belief that in order to 

know where you are going, you need to understand where you came from. This brief 

account of the history of our peoples is only a drop in the ocean waiting to be told by 

us.” 

  

*The raw information submitted here is from Pooran’s personal collection.   

On the 26th June 1851 the ship “Zenobia” sailed from British 
Guiana to India with 305 East Indian immigrants. There were 148 
males, 33 females, 28 children and 1 infant; a total of 210 individuals 
for the region Bengal. There were also 65 males, 21 females, 8 
children and 1 infant; a total of 95 individuals for the region Madras. 
On the 9th November 1851 the ship “Zenobia” reached Madras. Upon 
reaching Madras it stayed there for a period of 11 days and then 
embarked for Calcutta arriving on 23rd December 1851.  

In a report given by the Emigration Agent T. Caird he stated 
that the “Coolies” were not given a good supply of water and 
provisions. The “Coolies” complained due to the lack of water, they 
had to use salt water together with fresh water for cooking their rice. 
The surgeon who was sent on board the Zenobia never offered any 
assistance to them. They had to rely upon the goodwill of the third 
officer of the ship who helped them whenever he saw fit. Scurvy 
broke out on the ship and led to deaths, see Table 1.    

 

 



POORAN BRIDGELAL | 

APPENDIX 1 - OF INDENTURESHIP & SLAVERY 

 

211 

Questions put forward to the Emigrants on board the ship Zenobia, by A. Rogers, the 

Assistant Protector: 

 
Q: How have you been treated on board? 
 
A: We have been well treated on the ship. 
 
Q: Have you had enough khana and water? 
 
A: Plenty of both. 
 
Q: When sick were you carefully attended to? 
 
A: Yes, but we did not trust the doctor, we preferred medicine given 
by the captain. 
 
Q: Have you read the Benaglee papers I gave you on coming on 
board, warning you not to take cash with you to your homes, and 
that there are a number of thieves about Calcutta and upon the 
roads. The government will give you hoondies on the collectors of 
your zillahs for any amount, from 10 rupees to as many thousands; 
you should take these, and then you are safe.  
 
A: Most of them said they wanted to take hoondies.  
 
Q: I will get them for you free of all charge. On landing, you should 
all go to the derah from whence you embarked; you will get free 
quarters there, and your property will be safe. In the bazaars you are 
sure to be robbed, and perhaps murdered. I will send peons to take 
you to the derah safely.  
 
A: Most of the people agreed to go to the depot. 
 
Q: How were you treated in Demerara? 
 
A: We were treated well. 
 
Q: What wages could you earn? 
 
A: From 6 to 14 annas per day. Sirdars got more. 
 
Q: Was you work harder than here? 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2012 

212 

A: The work was very hard. People here do not understand how to 
work.  
 
Q: Were you paid by the month or week? 
 
A: We generally work sicca, but Sirdars got more. 
 
Q: Were you paid regularly? 
 
A: Yes, always in hand. 
 
Q: Were provisions high? 
 
A: Yes, very high; a bag of rice sometimes six dollars; now is cheaper. 
 
Q: Had you good houses? 
 
A: Yes, very much better than here. 
 
Q: How did you like the climate? 
 
A: It is very good, sometimes plenty rain. 
 
Q: Were you beaten or ill-used? 
 
A: No, no one can beat us in Demerara. 
 
Q: Did you suffer cold on the passage back? 
 
A: Some who had no clothes did, but the rest did not. 
 
Q: Had you medical attendance on Demerara? 
 
A: Yes, and hospitals where we might go to and not pay anything. 
 
Q: What sickness did you suffer from? 
 
A: Like this country, only more sort, the chego, which is very bad. 
 
Q: Were active cleanly men attacked by the chego? 
 
A: Not so much, but everyone gets it. 
 



POORAN BRIDGELAL | 

APPENDIX 1 - OF INDENTURESHIP & SLAVERY 

 

213 

Q: When any dies who takes their money and property? 
 
A: The magistrate generally takes all. 
 
Q: Most of you have brought dollars. I will send an honest poddar to 
the derah to exchange them for rupees; if you go to the bazaar to 
change them you will be cheated. Most of you speak English. Were 
there schools for you at Demerara?  
 
A: We all speak a little English; two men read and write it. There is a 
very good school in George Town for our children, made by the 
sahibs.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2012 

214 

GUYANA: 

Table 1: Deceased Bengal emigrants occurring on the ship “Zenobia,” upon leaving 

Guyana to India 

 

Names 
Father’s 

Name 
Age Caste Zillah Village 

Beehurry Kalmurry 30 Tatara Sahebgunge Serampore 

Sam Sing Luttoo 40 Bhuria - Lohardauga 

Chumun Bourbul 30 Cahar Sahebguago Ackepore 

Luchmum 
Sing 

Aadun 
Sing 

38 Rajpoot Arrah Domrow 

Salar 
Bocus 

Huster 70 
Mussul

man 
Arrah Doodkotaw 

Popee Bhoja 70 Dhooby Farrackubad Seewnee 

Mouaka Dookhoo 23 Bhoonij Ranchee Gurabur 

Dewkee Gookhool 34 Bildar Sahebguago Hutsa 

Assoo Foyzoo 70 
Mussul

man 
Poorcollo Capista 

Mua 
Dhun 

Gobin 50 Khayra Midanpore Gooree 

Goulab 
Gundhur

ab 
48 

Coorme
e 

Patna 
Mohameedpor

e 

Chutrun 
Dary 

Ganga 
Pursad 

- Rajpoot Lucknow Gourapore 

Moniar Terah 65 Dooand Patna Nowda 

Sacker 
Sing 

Ballyo 23 Sohur Bansoorah Koralee 

Bisso 
Nath 

Mooadub 72 Gunjoe Hasareebagh Mundo 

Narain Lall Sing 48 Rupoot Nagpore Ramdick 

*Zillah is a District 

 



POORAN BRIDGELAL | 

APPENDIX 1 - OF INDENTURESHIP & SLAVERY 

 

215 

Table 2: The “tally” of those onboard the ship “Candahar” which arrived at the Port of 

Georgetown, Guyana on the 27
th

 April 1848, 106 days from Madras 

 

Emigrants Men Women Boys Girls Infants 

Total 

 M F 

Embarked on 
Jan 1848 

217 66 16 17 3 1 320 

Died on voyage 11 5 2 2 - 1 21 

Born on voyage - - - - - 2 2 

Arrived in port 206 61 14 15 3 - 299 

For hospital 19 10 1 1 2 - 33 

For immediate 
distribution 

187 51 13 14 1 - 266 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There had been a great deal of sickness during the voyage, and the 
people when they arrived in port, were suffering severely from 
scurvy, of which three diseased persons died in the harbour; 21 
deaths had occurred on the voyage and in port; 33 were sent to the 
hospital; the remainder were distributed to five estates on the East 
Coast.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2012 

216 

Figure 1: General Remarks on Surgeon’s Diary and Journal Regarding the Candahar.  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“The surgeon on board reports the loss of his daily medical journal 
immediately previous to coming to anchor in Demerara. After a delay 
of six days I have been furnished with his weekly abstract and diary. 
Up to the arrival of the ship at St. Helena there had only been four 
deaths; but after that, scurvy broke out and the mortality became 
very considerable. The appearance of this disease on board may be 
attributed to the decomposition of two-thirds of the onions very soon 
after leaving Madras, the unfavourable weather in the latter part of 
the voyage, and partly, and also, to the great length of the voyage, 
106 days, being the longest passage of any of the Cooly ships hitherto 
to this colony. 
 
The great majority of people arrive more or less tainted with scurvy. 
The worst cases have been sent to the colonial-hospital; all the others 
were ordered a mess of fresh meat and vegetables.  

Provisions all good, and in abundance, except the fish, none of which 
remains. Water good. Vessel in every way well adapted for 
emigrants.” 

 

 

 

 

John M. Johnstone, Health Officer. 

 

 



POORAN BRIDGELAL | 

APPENDIX 1 - OF INDENTURESHIP & SLAVERY 

 

217 

Table 3: Death List onboard the Candahar 

Name 
Age 

Disease 
Days 

Sick 
Date of death 

M F 

Parasaramu 25  Dysentery 12 25 January 

Chintooma 
3 

1/2 
 Scorfula 22 

18 
February 

Madaramacum 3  Dysentery 13 
28 

February 

Raymon 28  
Rupture of 

aorta 
1 ½ 
hour 

7 March 

Nutchemuta 25  Dysentery 2 

16th 
March, 
jumped 

overboard 
Carumuna 16  - 1 30 March 

Mikey 28  - 1 30 March 
Unknown - 9mths Inanition - 4 April 

Riape 28 - Scurvy - 7 April 
Jandrum 15 - - - 7 April 

Murutama - 40 Dysentery 15 11 April 
Bassona 28 - Hydrothorax 13 13 April 
Carrupi - 9mths. Inanition - 15 April 

Carmuche - 23 Scurvy 11 19 April 
Rangusuani 45 - - - 21 April 

Mootomay 22 - Aneurism 
6 

hours 
22 April 

Maradie - 25 Mortification - 25 April 
Ramsuany 30 - Scurvy 2 28 April 

Paranei - 22 - 15 28 April 
Aurie - 18 - 22 28 April 

Doorasawnie  9mths. Inanition - 30 April 
 

Mother`s Name Sex Date of Birth Result 

Arrii Male 20 March 
Child died same day 

 
Valiei Male 23 April Child still-born. 

 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2012 

218 

Table 4: List of slave population of the District of Demarary and Essequebo, of the 

colony of British Guiana, from the year 1817 to 1832 

Year 

Registered 

Males 

African 

 

Creole 

Females 

African 

 

Creole 
TOTAL 

31st May 
1817 

27, 725 17,046 15,499 17,893 77,163 

31st May 
1820 

24, 658 18,569 14,471 19,678 77,376 

31st May 
1823 

21,767 19,457 13,005 20,748 74,977 

31st May 
1826 

18,898 19,860 11,592 21,032 71,382 

31st May 
1829 

16,384 20,757 10,343 21,983 69,467 

31st May 
1832 

13,519 20,830 9,052 22,116 65,517 

 

BARBADOS: 

Table 5: Return of slaves escheated to the Crown in the island of Barbados, from Jan 

1
st

 1808 

 

Date 
Name of 

Slave 
Sex Vessel Imported From 

3/01/1830 
Jane 

Edant 
Female Amelia Trinidad 

3/01/1830 Rosannah Female Amelia Trinidad 

3/01/1830 
Sophia 

La 
Grenade 

Female Amelia Trinidad 

3/01/1830 Peter Male Pegasus Bermuda 
4/03/1830 Lindo Male Industry Barbados 
5/06/1830 John Male Perseverance Antigua 
5/08/1830 Bashey Male Eliza Pratt Barbados 
6/03/1830 Maria Female Caroline Tobago 
6/19/1830 James Male Concord Trinidad 

7/01/1830 Quamina Male 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 

7/01/1830 Celia Female 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 



POORAN BRIDGELAL | 

APPENDIX 1 - OF INDENTURESHIP & SLAVERY 

 

219 

7/01/1830 Betsy Female 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 

 
GRENADA: 

Table 6: An account of slaves “imported” and “exported” into and from the Port of St. 

George, Grenada, from 1
st

 January 1825 – 5
th

 July 1830 

Date 
Name of 

Slave 
Sex Vessel Imported From 

Mar/01/1830 
Jane 

Edant 
Female Amelia Trinidad 

Mar/01/1830 Rosannah Female Amelia Trinidad 

Mar/01/1830 
Sophia La 
Grenade 

Female Amelia Trinidad 

Mar/01/1830 Peter Male Pegasus Bermuda 

April/03/1830 Lindo Male Industry Barbados 

May/06/1830 John Male Perseverance Antigua 

May/08/1830 Bashey Male Eliza Pratt Barbados 

June/03/1830 Maria Female Caroline Tobago 

June/19/1830 James Male Concord Trinidad 

July/01/1830 Quamina Male 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 

July/01/1830 Celia Female 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 

July/01/1830 Betsy Female 
James & 
Margaret 

St. 
Christopher 

“Imported” 

 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2012 

220 

Date Name of 

Slave 

Sex Vessel Exported to 

Feb/13/1830 Malvina Female Amelia Trinidad 
Feb/16/1830 Timothy Male Sir John 

Thomas 
Duckworth 

Trinidad 

Feb/16/1830 Alick Male Sir John 
Thomas 
Duckworth 

Trinidad 

Feb/18/1830 Lindo Male Isabella St. 
Christopher 

Feb/23/1830 Bob Male Robert Barbados 
Feb/23/1830 Desir Male Robert Barbados 
Mar/04/1830 Peter Male Pigwidgeon St.Vincent 
May/29/1830 Bashey Male Lady of the 

Isle 
St. Vincent 

June/18/1830 Clara Female Flora St. Vincent 
July/15/1830 Bob Male Lady 

Adventurer 
St. Lucia 

Table 7: “Exported” 

 




